Joan of Valois (1556)

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French Monarchy-
Capetian Dynasty, House of Valois
(Valois-Angoulême branch)

Francis I Children    Francis    Henry II    Madeleine of Valois    Charles of Valois    Margaret of Valois Henry II Children    Francis II    Elizabeth of Valois    Claude of Valois    Louis of Valois    Charles IX    Henry III    Marguerite of Valois    François, Duke of Anjou    Joan of Valois    Victoria of Valois Francis II Charles IX Henry III

Joan of Valois and her twin sister Victoria of Valois were the last children born to King Henri II of France and his wife, Catherine de' Medici.

Catherine's confinement for this birth came on June 24, 1556. Joan did not survive and lay dead in her mother's womb for several hours. Eventually, her arm had to be broken to extricate her. Her sister Victoria survived but died a month later.

Because the twins' birth nearly cost their mother her life, the king's physician advised the king that there should be no more children; therefore, the king stopped visiting his wife's bedroom and spent all his time with his longtime mistress, Diane de Poitiers.